Authored by Julie Smith

Let’s face it. London can be an expensive city to tour. Sure, there are plenty of free things to do once you arrive, but when you start adding up hotels, restaurants and shows, you may realize that a visit here can very quickly leave your bank account in a sorry state. Luxury in London

For those of us that live here, we cope by scouring the web for deals, hunting down the best cheap eats, and visiting the city’s free museums way too many times. What are the best luxurious experiences in London?

But what if you feel like a splurge? Where to splurge in London?

In this list of luxury experiences in London, we have included two levels in each category. The first, “Our Splurge”, are certainly luxurious, but could be considered ‘normal people luxury’ and we’ve experienced them all.

The other category is the “Dream Splurge”; the places and activities that we would love to experience, if it weren’t for the mind numbing expense. Keep in mind that in London, the sky is the limit. If you want to drop £15,000 on a hotel room, you are more than welcome to do so!

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Luxurious London: What, Where and When to Splurge

Luxurious London: What, Where and When to Splurge

Hotels

Our Splurge: Dorset Square Hotel £300/nt

This gem is tucked into a quaint square just off of Baker Street in Marylebone. The townhouse setting is adorable, with individually designed rooms and a restaurant with an amazing breakfast and afternoon tea.

Dream Splurge: Ham Yard Hotel £600/nt

This new property sits in a central location, bordering St. James, Mayfair and SoHo. The rooms are unique, there is a tree-filled courtyard garden, a rooftop bar with views across SoHo and a bowling alley.

It’s cool without being pretentious, with a luxury price tag to match.

Restaurants

Our Splurge: Clove Club £75/pp including drinks/service

Located in the Shoreditch Town Hall, Clove Club offers a set menu, utilizing British ingredients with modern flair. When to splurge in London

This place is all the rage since getting its first Michelin star last year, and the neighborhood is hipster central. Expensive restaurants in London

Dream Splurge: The Ledbury £175 including drinks/service

This two Michelin starred restaurant tops most lists for best restaurant in London. If you want to spend money, there are few better places than the Ledbury to do so. Best Michelin Star restaurants in London

Cocktails

Our Splurge: 69 Colebrooke Row ~£10

Our neighborhood’s cool cocktail bar has no sign outside, upping its air of exclusivity. The drinks are well made and the tiny room is always packed, so advanced booking is a necessity. Best cocktails in London

Dream Splurge: Artesian ~£17

This bar, off the lobby in the Langham Hotel, has the distinction as one of the best cocktail bars in the world. The drinks are inventive and the room oozes luxury. Where to find the best drinks in London

Afternoon Tea

Our Splurge: Modern Pantry Afternoon Tea with Bubbles £27.50/pp

We love the Modern Pantry because it does afternoon tea with a twist. The rosewater and cherry scones are even better than the original.

Dream Splurge: The Ritz Champagne Afternoon Tea £66/pp

Tea sandwiches, scones and bite-size treats in the Ritz’s extravagant tea room. Don’t forget your dainty hat! Best afternoon tea in London. 

Shopping

Our Splurge: Jigsaw/Ben Sherman

Two of our favorite British high-end shops for clothes that are a noticeable step up in quality and price than our normal threads. It’s where we shop on our birthdays! Splurge on shopping in London. Best London shopping. 

Dream Splurge: Private Shopping at Selfridges £2,000 minimum

It is not hard to spend money at the classic department store Selfridges, but you will need to spend at least £2,000 to skip the crowds and shop in solitude and peace. Where is the most expensive shopping in London?

Events

Our Splurge: English Premier League Football Match £75-£100/pp

After becoming a member at our local club, Arsenal, we have been to a handful of matches. Nothing beats game day in the English Premiere League.

Pubs, beer and chanting. A memorable and truly local experience.

Dream Splurge: Wimbledon Men’s Final £2,500/pp

If you don’t happen to be a member of the British tennis association, tickets to Wimbledon are almost impossible to come by. That means sky high prices on the secondary market. Most expensive events in London.

Want to visit the All England Club for some a classic tennis final? Be prepared to unload your bank account. Most exclusive London events. 

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Luxurious London: What, Where and When to Splurge

Luxurious London: What, Where and When to Splurge

Julie and Drew are American expats living and working in London. There, they write about life in London and their extensive travels at Drive on the Left.

When they’re not exploring Europe, they love to relax in the neighborhood pub, take their dog Basil for walks in the nearby rose garden and root for their favorite football team, Arsenal!

Follow Julie and Drew on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

Photo credits: Mackerel at the Ledbury by Simon Doggett. Afternoon Tea by Drive on the Left.